Vehicle body top



pt 13, 1949. e. PHILIP 2,481,368

VEHICLE BODY TOP Filed 0ct. 21, 1946 f INVENTOR.

GEORGE PH|L|P- BY ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 13, 1949 STATES'PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE BODY TOP George Philip, Detroit, Mich. Application October 21, 1946, Serial No. 704,785

4 Claims. 1

The invention relates to vehicle body construction and, more particularly, to the construction of the top of said body. Such body tops are usually formed of pressed sheet metal, which is transversely arched and longitudinally of a streamlined contour. While such structure has sufficient strength to take care of stresses to which it is subjected during the normal operation of the car, it may not withstand the crushing stress in case of accident and the overturning of the car.

It is the object of the instant invention to obtain a construction which, while preserving the general form and streamlined contour of the top, is reinforced to have greater strength for resisting crushing stresses. To this end the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of my improved vehicle body top;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3, Fig. 1; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Fig. 1 showing modified constructions.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View looking from the rear of the top toward the front.

As above stated, my improved vehicle body top is generally streamlined longitudinal, and transversely arched as is usual with present day vehicle tops. Also, this top is formed preferably of pressed sheet metal. However, instead of an uninterrupted contour line, the top is formed with a series of depressions which form in efiect inwardly extending reinforcing ribs.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the pressed sheet metal top A has in the portions on opposite sides of the center thereof a series of depressions B, B, B etc. Each of these depressions forms an abrupt drop C at its forward end and gradually tapers outward therefrom towards the rear. Thus, the streamlined eifect is substantially retained. Each of the depressions B is also of maximum depth at its center and tapers outward towards its opposite ends. This is accomplished by changing the transverse contour curve in the depressed portions flattening it or making it of greater radius. This is illustrated in Fig. 3 in which the curve D is the normal arch curve of the top and the curve E, which is in the depressed portions B, B, etc., merges with the curve D at its opposite ends but is offset therefrom at its center.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the line of each abrupt drop C extends from a point near the center of the body to a point near its outer edge portion but is slightly inclined rearward from center to side. In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 4, the drop lines F are arcuate curves but still extend generally in a transverse direction. In Fig. 5, the drop lines G extend longitudinally of the top but taper outward from center to opposite ends. In all of the modifications, the top is reinforced to strengthen the same without great change in the general contour lines.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A vehicle body top comprising a pressed sheet of generally streamlined longitudinal contour and arched transverse contour, said sheet having a longitudinal series of depressed portions therein arranged on opposite sides of the center, each depressed portion having an abrupt drop at its forward edge and tapering upward therefrom towards the rear edge thereof, and also being of maximum depth at the center of said drop and tapering towards the inner and outer ends thereof.

2. A vehicle body top comprising a pressed sheet of generally streamlined longitudinal contour and arched transverse contour, said sheet having a plurality of transversely and rearwardly extending depressed portions, each of said depressed portions being formed by an abrupt step-like drop from the regular contour of the top to form the forward portion of the depression and tapering upwardly and rearwardly therefrom to rejoin the regular roof contour at a. point adjacent the next step-like drop.

3. A vehicle body top comprising a pressed sheet of generally streamlined longitudinal contour and arched transverse contour, said sheet having a plurality of transversely and rearwardly extending depressed portions, each of said depressed portions being formed by an abrupt step-like drop from the regular contour of the top to form the forward portion of the depression and tapering upwardly and rearwardly therefrom to rejoin the regular roof contour at a point adjacent the next step-like drop, said depressions each being of maximum depth at the center thereof and tapering outwardly to blend into the regular roof contour at the outer end of the depression.

4. A vehicle body top comprising a pressed sheet of generally streamlined longitudinal contour and arched transverse contour, said sheet having a plurality of transversely and rearwardly extending depressed portions on opposite sides 2,481,868 3 4 of the center thereof, each of said depressed REFERENCES CITED portions being formed by an abrupt step-like drop from the regular contour of the top to form g t i g gg ffi are of record in the the forward portion of the depression and tapering upwardly and rearwardly therefrom to re- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS join the regular roof contour at a point adjacent Number Name Date the next step-like drop, said depressions each 1600 511 Pierce et a] Sept 21 1926 being of maximum depth at the center thereof 1600533 Bourgon Sept: 1926 and tapering both inwardly and outwardly 1:64O:592 Bourgon Aug 1927 therefrom to blend into the regular contour of 10 2,169,920 fi w h Mar 1938 th top at the center and outer portions thereof.

GEORGE PHILIP. 

